Dutch Hemp Store

The forgotten miracle plant

It is almost impossible to imagine that a plant with so many different application options has fallen into oblivion. Disowned by the cotton, paper and oil (plastic) industry, Cannabis, or Hemp was placed on the list of narcotic drugs and came into such a negative light that almost no one wanted to be associated with it. Fortunately, this has changed in recent years. More and more people are gradually realizing that the plant has endless sustainable and healthy applications.



History


Hemp is one of the oldest cultivated plants and has been in use for around 12 thousand years for the production of textiles, paper, food and medicines. In 1937, however, the Du Pont family patented certain procedures to make plastic from oil and to make paper pulp from wood. When the Opium Act was introduced, hemp was also placed on the 'black list' of narcotic drugs. From 1945 the cultivation was completely prohibited. Where in the past paper and rope were still made from hemp, cotton and plastic eagerly took their position on the market.


Ecological benefits


The word 'weed' describes it well: hemp is actually a type of weed. It grows almost everywhere, super-fast so that other plants have no chance.
Cotton is a widely accepted textile for the production of clothing. However, hemp has many advantages in terms of water, chemicals and land. In summary:

  • Cotton needs 10-15 thousand liters of water to grow on the land, and hemp only a few hundred liters.
  • Cotton needs an awful lot of insecticides and pecticides. Hemp is simply strong, growing up against everything.
  • The amount of fiber that you can grow per hectare of hemp is about double that of cotton, so you also save a lot of land.

 


Health


Hemp seed contains high levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Omega6 is present for approximately 50%, omega3 for approximately 20%. These are two essential fatty acids that our body cannot make itself but that it needs. Hemp also contains a lot of gamma-linolenic acid (or GLA), about 2-6%. This is a long unsaturated fatty acid that does not occur in many oils. Hemp seed is therefore preferable to fish oil, especially in view of the heavy metals (mercury) which nowadays occur in all oily fish due to pollution. The proteins are also made up of all 9 essential amino acids that people need. Because of these easily digestible proteins, it is a valuable protein supplier and therefore not only a good meat substitute, but also for soy.




Nowadays medication and nutritional supplements are made from the leaves and flower tops, see our separate page under info: CBD information



Ecological benefits


The word 'weed' describes it well: hemp is actually a type of weed. It grows almost everywhere, super-fast so that other plants have no chance. Did you know that nearly all fossil material can be replaced by hemp? Literally every part of the plant can be used for a large variety of products, ranging from clothing to food and from plastics to cosmetics. You can even build houses with hemp! The great thing about hemp is it’s sustainability. It requires little water during growth and is naturally protected from insects and other harmful micro organisms. So it can grow organically, without the use of pesticides. Hemp is a fast growing crop too: in less then 3 months time it can reach a hight of 4 to 6 meters (16 feet) tall! Hemp is highly beneficial to people, animals and planet.



Cannabis & SDG's


And even beyond: did you know that hemp provides the answer to the larger part of all SDG’s (sustainable developement goals)? Download the free summary of FAAAT’s report here.




 

EIHA


Download hemp brochure from the European Industrial Hemp Association:

<EIHA-leaflet.pdf